INTRODUCTION

TO ETHICS
PEARL GEM M. GUTIERREZ, LPT.
INSTRUCTOR 1
 OBJECTIVES
Define ethics in the philosophic study;

Explain what is ethics in philosophy and

morality;

Distinguish ethics from morality; and

Compare normative ethics and meta-ethics.

WHAT IS ETHICS?
 DEFINITION OF ETHICS
Ethics came from the Greek word ethos, meaning
“customs” or “behaviors”.
Behavior is more attributed to human behavior and
is therefore inherent to human beings.
The term ethos has an equivalent meaning in Latin
word moris which means “morals”.
Ethics is not to be understood as specific to the
nation but rather as inherent human.
 DEFINITION OF ETHICS
Ethics is a mental-set, dispositions or values.
Ethics is defined as:
- As a science, it deals with the morality (rightness or
wrongness) of the human act.
- As a discipline, it is meant for the exercise of a human
conduct, both ethical and unethical.
- As a philosophical study, it guides the intellect in
discerning concrete human conduct.
 MORALITY
Morality came from the root word “mores”, which
refers to the customs.
It constitutes the core of the attitudes and beliefs of a
particular group of people.
“mores” refers to the accepted traditional customs and
moral values of a society.
Mores have a strong social and ethical significance and
are often enforced by societal pressure or legal systems.
META-ETHICS AND NORMATIVE ETHICS

META-ETHICS NORMATIVE ETHICS

is a science that attempts concerns human conduct in
to answer non-moral questions general
about morality.
attempts to answer our
primarily concerned with questions regarding the
the study of the meaning morality of human action.
and epistemological
foundations of moral inquires as to why or why not
standards. a certain act should or should
be done
 APPLIED ETHICS
It is the application of ethics or moral theories for the
purpose of deciding which ethical or moral actions are
appropriate in given situation.
Applied ethics is about taking ethical concepts and applying
them to real-world issues, helping individuals and
organizations make morally informed decisions in specific
contexts.
It includes Business Ethics, Biomedical Ethics,
Environmental Ethics, Social Ethics.

EXAMPLE:
Applied ethics is debate over euthanasia.
 EUTHANASIA
refers to the practice of intentionally ending a person's life to
relieve them from severe pain and suffering, typically due to a
terminal illness or an incurable condition.
greek word “eu: meaning “good” and “thanatos” meaning
“death”
1. Voluntary - decision to request or consent to euthanasia.
2. Non-Voluntary - another person, such as a family member or
legal guardian, makes the decision on their behalf.
3. Involuntary - When euthanasia is performed on a person who is
capable of consenting but does not give their consent or
explicitly opposes it. This is typically considered unethical and
is often equated with murder.
ETHICS AS CRITICAL, PRACTICAL AND NORMATIVE

It is the analysis of what makes an act good or bad.

Ethical inquiry is one that does not simply describe how
humans live but how they ought to live.
The nature of ethical inquiry tells us what are the things
that we have to do because they are right but more
importantly and significantly, it tells us WHY certain
actions are good and on what ground those actions are
said to be moral/non-moral/amoral.
 CHARACTHERISTICS OF MORAL PRINCIPLES
1. Prescriptivism – Ex., Do not kill. Do no harm to your fellow men.
2. Impartiality – this means that ethical or moral rules should be neutral when it
comes to the question of will be its recipient.
3. Over-ridingness – moral standards must have hegemonic authority. A violation
for instance of the moral imperative against telling a lie is of greater value than
pleasing somebody as prescribed perhaps by the rule on etiquette.
4. Autonomous from Arbitrary Authority – moral standards should stand on their
own logic interdependent of the arbitrariness of the majority. We can always
challenge the tyranny of numbers and the tide of public opinion on matters of
right and wrong.
5. Publicity – moral rules and principles must be made public if they are to serve
as guidelines to our actions.
6. Practicability – moral rules should not be impossible to achieve or else they are
not for men but for angels.
 MORALITY
Situation:
Imagine a person finds a wallet full of cash on the
street.

Moral Decision:
The person decides to return the wallet to its
owner without taking any of the money.
 ETHICS
Situation:
A journalist discovers a scandal involving a major
corporation.

Moral Decision:
The journalist chooses to publish a well-
researched article exposing the scandal, despite
knowing it may harm the careers of some
individuals involved.
Morality
is more personal and subjective, often based on
individual beliefs, cultural norms, or religious
teachings.
Ethics
is more systematic and often codified in rules or
guidelines for specific professions or social
practices, addressing complex situations where
multiple moral principles might apply.
RULES, RULES, RULES

Why do we have rules? Why do we follow rules?

As social beings, rules serve as guides for individual members to follow. For
instance, we have traffic rules to manage the flow of human/vehicle traffic.
These rules set order and priority to harmonize and prevent accidents from
happening. In school, we have school policies and regulations. Among these is
the wearing of school uniform. Everyone is expected to wear proper uniform.
This particular rule is intended for certain reasons. Among the reasons that it
addresses are the need for identity, security and protection of all in the school.

Can you provide example of rules that you observe in home, school, or
your community?
What are RULES and why do we need to follow them?

Why are there so many rules?

For as long as we are living, we have been following rules. Many

people don’t like following rules because they represent some kind of
restrictions. However, in reality, life can’t be placed in order without
rules. Without rules and regulations as we know them, modern
civilization would definitely plunge into chaos. For example, if
everyone could simply do what they want in a classroom, do you
think that much learning would take place? Is it an ideal environment
for learning? A classroom without rules would be down right chaotic.
WHAT ARE RULES?

It is a set of guidelines which has been established in all countries

and communities and has been accepted by all. The types of rules
can differ from one country or community to another. The rule
differences are affected by factors like beliefs, social interactions,
policies, and the type of government. Violators are dealt with
according to the penalties that come with the violation of the rules.

Rules are important to social beings. It defines our identity and

membership. It also affords us with protection and belongingness. It
also embodies the good that the community has set for everyone.
MORAL STANDARDS

Involve the rules people have about the kinds of actions they believe
are morally right and wrong, as well as the values they place on the
kinds of objects they believe are morally good and morally bad

a.) Moral standards involve serious wrongs or significant benefits:

Moral standards deal with matters which can seriously impact, that is,
injure or benefit human beings. It is not the case with many non-moral
standards. For instance, following or violating some basketball rules
may matter in basketball games but does not necessarily affect one’s life
or wellbeing.
b.) Moral standards ought to be preferred to other values:

Moral standards have overriding character or authority. If a moral

standard states that a person has the moral obligation to do something,
then he/she is supposed to do that even if it conflicts with other non-
moral standards, and even with self-interest.

c.) Moral standards are not established by authority figures:

Moral standards are not invented, formed, or generated by

authoritative bodies or persons such as nations’ legislative bodies.
Ideally instead, these values ought to be considered in the process of
making laws.
d.) Moral standards have the trait of universalizability:

It means that everyone should live up to moral standards. To be

more accurate, however, it entails that moral principles must apply
to all who are in the relevantly similar situation.

e.) Moral standards are based on impartial considerations:

Moral standard does not evaluate standards on the basis of the

interests of a certain person or group, but one that goes beyond
personal interests to a universal standpoint in which each person’s
interests are impartially counted as equal.
f.) Moral standards are associated with special
emotions and vocabulary:

Prescriptivity indicates the practical or action-

guiding nature of moral standards.
These moral standards are generally put forth as
injunction or imperatives.
These principles are proposed for use, to advise,
and to influence to action.
NON-MORAL STANDARDS
refers to rules that are unrelated to moral or ethical
considerations.
These standards are not necessarily linked to morality or by
nature lack ethical sense.
EXAMPLES:
choosing a boyfriend
underage drinking
skipping house chores
not wearing a facemask
teenage pregnancy
online shopping
cheating on a quiz
WHAT ARE ETHICAL OR MORAL DILEMMAS?

Ethical or moral dilemmas occur when an agent

encounters a situation where he/she regards
himself/herself as having moral reasons to do each of two
actions, but doing both actions is not possible. The crucial
features of a moral dilemma are these:

1. the agent is required to do each of two (or more) actions;

2. the agent can do each of the actions;
3. but the agent cannot do both (or all) of the actions.
Michael had several friends including Roger and Daniel. Roger has
recently met and started dating a wonderful lady named Phyllis. He is
convinced this is a long term relationship. Unknown to Roger, Michael
observed them at a restaurant several days ago and realized Phyllis is the
wife of his other friend Daniel.

Michael is deciding whether to tell Roger that Phyllis is married when he

receives a call from Daniel.
Daniel suspects his wife is having an affair. Since Daniel and his wife share
many friends and contacts with Michael, Daniel asks if Michael has heard
anything regarding an affair.
What should Michael do in this ethical dilemma? To whom does Michael owe
greater friendship or loyalty in this situation?
No matter who he tells, he knows that it is going to end up hurting one, if not
both friends.
 Should Michael reveal to Roger that Phyllis is married?
Should Michael tell Daniel what he knows about Roger and Phyllis?
Does that fact that Daniel asked him a direct question have an impact on
what Michael should do?
Should Michael speak up to both Daniel and Roger? Does he remain
silent and hope his knowledge is never discovered?

In this situation, Michael has to weigh the variables in the situation to make
the decision he feels is best. If truth is a guiding principle of his morality, he’s
likely to tell both of his friends what he knows and hope that they don’t
blame him for any negative consequences they experience as a result of
telling the truth.
ACTIVITY: DEALING WITH DILEMMAS

SCENARIO 1: As a person, you value honesty. You also value friendship and loyalty.
One day, your best friend asks you to lie to protect him from getting caught by the police.
Would you tell the police about the location of your friend? Briefly explain your answer.

SCENARIO 2: You are a newly elected official in your municipality. You are known to be
a just and incorruptible person. However, you have a sickly mother whom you love so
much. An emergency situation occurs and you need a big amount of money so your
mother can be brought to the hospital. Upon knowing your predicament, a government
contractor approached you and offered you more than the needed amount with one
condition: that you make sure that the contractor wins the contract in a big project of the
city. In this situation, would you accept the offer? Briefly explain your answer.
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SCENARIO 3: You work in an autoshop. You are responsible for the purchase
of spare parts for use in the shop. The owner has so much trust and confidence
in you as a person. However, you are having problems keeping up with your bill
payments and needs at home. A supplier suggested that instead of buying the
prescribed original spare parts, the supplier will give you replacement parts, but
at the original price. Will you take the offer and earn extra money for your
family?
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FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS
IN ETHICS
 THE HUMAN ACT
Human act is a conscious and free exercise of one’s
faculties, therefore, conscious and free.

Act of man is an act beyond the control of one’s will.

Morality or ethics is more connected with human

acts rather than acts of man.
 THE HUMAN ACT
Constituents of Human Act:

1. Knowledge - resides in the intellect and is the

mindfulness of what the moral agent is holding.
2. Freedom - quality of the freewill by which one is able
to choose between one or more alternatives.
3. Voluntariness - quality of the human act whereby
any commission or omission of an act is a result of
the knowledge which an agent has of the end.
 SOURCES OF MORALITY
The Object of the Act
- The very substance of the act
- “What was performed by the agent?”

Motive of the Agent

- Purpose for which a human agent does the act
- “What specifically does the agent want?”

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 ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:
1. How can we make use of ethics in our everyday lives?
2. Is ethics important or relevant in your chosen xourse or
profession? Briefly explain your answer.
3. Describe your experience whenever you have donw
something good or bad.
4. Describe your experience whenever you have done
something bad or wrong.
5. Does it matter to you that you do right and avoid doing
wrong? Why?
THANK YOU